Device for supporting the head, and holding it stationary while making x-ray pictures



Sept. 6, 1955 DEVICE FOR suPPor STATIONARY WH Filed Jan. 23, 1952 J E. DELK, SR

2,717,314 TING THE HEAD, AND HOLDING IT ILE MAKINGX-RAY PICTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JAMES E. DELK SK.

ATTOENEY Sept. 6, 1955 J. E. DELK, SR 2,

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING THE HEAD, AND HOLDING IT STATIONARY WHILE MAKING X-RAY PICTURES Filed Jan. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JAMES E. DELK,5K- BY ATTORNEY United States DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING THE HEAD, AND. HOLDING IT STATIONARY WHILE MAK- ING X-RAY PICTURES James E. Delk, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.- Application January 23', 1952, SerialNo. 267,857 11 Claims. .(Cl. 250-50) My invention relates to equipment for roentgenography and more specifically to a device for supporting the. head and holding it stationary in proper position while. making X-ray pictures.

Because of the complex bony structure of the human head, roentgenography of the head requirespainstaking and accurate technique. Many times, overlying and confusing shadows occur in a roentgenogram because offthe inexact positioning of the head to give an e'rron'eous'a'nd illegible picture, thus necessitating additional roentgenographs which are expensive. and time consuming In roentgenography, the X-rays must traverse a definite course through predetermined entrance and exit points on the head; therefore, it is necessary, not only to manipulate the head, but also to adjust the X-ray tube and filmcassette to the head in referencetodistance. and angle. These adjustments and manipulations may be done manually, by observation without-mechanical assistance, but the results so obtained are sometimes unsatisfactory.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a device which will properly position the head of a person to be roentgenographed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as described above which may be adapted to standard X-ray equipment quickly and efficiently. r

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as described above which is adjustableto any size head.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as described above which is inexpensive to, manufacture and durable in structure. e

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as described above which is easily and efficiently operated when installed on X-ray equipment. 2

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw? ings wherein like characters of reference designatecorrespending parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying my invention. c

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a detail.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for purposes of illustration, numeral 10 denotes generally a support clamp having jaws 11 anl 12. Ian/ 11 is-a'substantially flat, rectangular member which acts to support the remaining structure. As seen in Figs..l and 2, jaws 11 and 12 are coupled by conventional bolts'and nuts'so that these jaws may clamp onto the top portionof an upright film-cassette. Spaced ears '13 and l3 p rotrude outwardly from the front side of jaw ll'and retain-a pivot pin 14 fixed therebetween.

Pivotally mounted on pin 14 is bracket 15. 'As seen in Fig. 2, one end of bracket 15 is curved around pin114 and is releasably held by lock bolt 16 which threadably engages the adjacent body portion of bracket 15. when Patented Sept 6.,

look bolt 16 is tightened, bracket 15 will no longer rotate. Similarly, the other end of. bracket 15 is arranged torotat ably support pivot pin l'l and is provided with lock bolt 18 which is similarto lock bolt 16 for locking pi n 17 against rotation when tightened. l t A frame supporting member 19, having spaced arm 20, 20 atone end similar to cars 13 and 13, is fixed by those arms to the free ends of pivot pin 17. which pro-. trude outwardly from bracket 15. Therefore, by tighten ing lock bolt 18, rotation of member 19 withrespect to bracket 15 may be stopped. Member19. normallyextends horizontally from bracket 15; and, asseen in Fig, 1 this member tapers toward its free. end, .On thisfree end is formed a transverse journal for lock screw 21, whose function will be described in more detail hereinafter- Depending from member 19 is asubstantially rectangue lar plate 22 which is integral with member .19 at. right angles thereto. Plate 22 is normally. parallel to jaw 11 and also forms a bearing plate for alignment arms 23 and 23. As seen in Fig. 4, arms 23 and 23' are pivotally mounted on studs 24 and 24' respectively, which extend forwardly through. spaced parallel holes in the plate 22; In addition, the portion of arms 23 and 23 between studs 24 and 24 are machined to form gear ,teeth 25 and125 which-engage each other so that upon rotation of one arm about its respective bolt, the, other arm will rotate accordingly. A positioning plate 2 6 of smaller size than plate 22 and having holes matching with those of plate-22 is positioned over the engaged portions of arms 23 and 23 so that studs 24 and 24 extend through the. holes provided in plate 22 therefor. v Nuts 27 and 27' threadably engage studs 24 and 24', respectively, and thus retain plate 26 and arms 23 and 23' in place. Nut 27' is pro vided with a nut actuating arm 28 integral therewith-which extendsparallel to arm 23' so that by pivoting this. arm, nut 27 may be tightened or loosened to provide 'a means whereby arm 23' binds on plate 22 thereby locking this arm with respectto the plate. It is to be rememberedthat arms 23 and 23' are geared together so that by locking onearm, both arms are thereby locked. Nut 27 is firmly screwed down on stud 24 but is not tightened sufficiently to prevent movement of arm 23. V v

Arms 23 and 23 extend outwardly and downwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and their free ends are provided respectively with head rest pads 31 and 31 which are swivelly mounted in ordinary manner by means of thumb screws 32, 32'. Arms 23 and 23 are of such a size and shape that when pads 31 and 31' rest against opposite sides of a human head, the arms tend to encompass the top portion of the head. 1

Referring now to frame supporting member 1 91mentioned .above, brace 33 is pivotally mounted thereon by. means of adjusting screw 21 as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that, ears 34 and 3 4 are similar to arms 20 and 20' and are .formed to extend over the. ends of the transverse journal in member 19 so that set screw 21 may pass through a hole in ear 34' and through the journal in member 19. threadably engage ear 34. Adjusting screw 21 is of such length that, when it is screwed into ear .34, the head engages cal. 34 to .close'the space between cars 34 and 34' and al; low them to bind on the end. portions of: the journal in mernber 19. As illustrated in Fig. l, aslot 35 is provided inbrace 33 so that ,the space between-ears 34 and 34' maybe closed as described abovel y, Brace 33, as illustrated in Fig. 2,. curves downward ly to form a degree elbow, and rigidlyaflined to its lower end is a somewhatxelliptically shaped alignment frame 36, being larger than-ia-mans head and be ing normally positioned so that it maybe pivoted into spaced relation, parallel to arms 23 and-.23. 'As seen in Fig.3, an alignment cross hair orwire 37' is' attached to' the top of frame 36 by screw 38 and this wire 37 extends down to the lower central outside portion of ring 36 and is adjustably attached thereto by a positioning screw 39 which is journaled for rotation parallel to the lower central portion of frame 36 as shown in Fig. 1. Wire 37 is wound around screw 39 in the threads thereof so that by rotating the screw, slight adjustment may be had for the lateral positioning of wire 37.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that, when my invention is clamped onto the top portion of a film-cassette and that cassette is in an upright posi tion at the proper height to roentgenograph a seated persons head, arms 23 and 23' are so fixed to the remaining structure of my invention that head pads 31 and 31' are always equidistant in perpendicular planes from the film-cassette. Also, it will be obvious that head pads 31 and 31' will also be equidistant from the perpendicular plane of wire 37 with respect to the filmcassette even though arms 23 and 23' may be rotated as described above. Minor adjustments to insure that these pads remain equidistant from the perpendicular plane of wire 37 may be made by adjusting thumb screws 32, 32.

In use, locking bolts 16 and 18 are loosened to allow arms 23, 23, and therefore head pads 31, 31, to be positioned properly in front of the film-cassette. Then bolts 16 and 18 are tightened, thus locking frame supporting member 19 in position, with arms 20, 20 parallel to the film-cassette. Now, by moving nut actuating arm 28, nut 27 may be loosened, thus allowing arms 20, 20' to be rotated away from each other so that a person can be seated in front of the film-cassette. The arms are then closed slowly until the person's head is gently held between pads 31 and 31'. Lock screw 21 may then be loosened and frame 36 brought down close to the head. The nose of the person may then be accurately aligned with wire 37 before nut actuating arm 28 is again tightened. As soon as the head of a person is properly aligned and the pressure against pads 31 and 31' so adjusted that it will hold a persons head in straight alignment, frame 38 may be rotated away from the head and out of the line of X-ray projection.

It is to be remembered that the X-ray projector must also be aligned with wire 37, which, in turn, aligns the head of the person with the projector. After adjustments mentioned above are made, and after frame 38 is rotated up and away from the head, an X-ray picture may be taken.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the scope of my invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising means for engaging the film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, supporting means associated with said means, opposed spaced alignment arms pivotally mounted on said supporting means, means connected to said arms to provide opposed rotation of said arms, an alignment wire adjacent said supporting means in a plane midway between said arms for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said arms, and means for supporting said alignment wire.

2. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising means for engaging the film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a frame supporting member mounted on said means, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said frame supporting member, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, an alignment wire mounted on said frame supporting member in a plane midway between said arms for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said arms, for supporting said wire.

3. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising means for engagingthe film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a bracket pivotally mounted on said means, a frame supporting member fixed to said bracket, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said bearing plate, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, and an alignment means pivotally mounted on said frame supporting mem ber in a plane midway between said head pads for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said head pads.

4. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising a clamp having jaws for engaging the film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting'said device on said film-cassette, a frame supporting member adjustably fixed to said clamp, mounting studs on said frame supporting member, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said mounting studs, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, nuts threadably engaging said mounting studs, a nut actuating arm attached to one of said nuts whereby said arm may be and means actuated to tighten said nut to stop rotation of both device on said film-cassette, a frame supporting member adjustably fixed to said clamp, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, mounting studs on said bearing plate, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said mounting studs, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, nuts threadably engaging said mounting studs, a nut actuating arm attached to one of said nuts whereby said arm may be actuated to tighten said nut to stop rotation of both said alignment arms, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, a frame pivotally mounted on said frame supporting member, and an alignment means carried by said frame in a plane midway between said head pads for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said head pads.

6. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising a clamp for engaging the film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a bracket pivotally mounted on said clamp, a frame supporting member pivotally mounted on said bracket, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said bearing plate, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, means operatively connected to said arms for stopping rotation of both said alignment arms, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, a frame pivotally mounted on said frame supporting member, and an alignment means carried by said frame in a plane midway between said head pads for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said head pads.

7. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising a clamp for engaging the f lm-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a pivot pin fixed to said clamp, a bracket pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, a second pivot pin journaled for rotation in said bracket, a frame supporting member fixed to said second pivot pin, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said frame supporting member, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, means connected to said arms for stopping rotation of both said alignment arms, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, a frame pivotally mounted on said frame supporting member, an alignment wire carried by said frame in a plane midway between said head pads for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said head pads, and means for supporting said wire.

8. A device for supporting a human head While making X-ray pictures comprising a clamp of engaging the film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a pivot pin fixed to said clamp, a bracket pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, a locking bolt for tightening said bracket on said pivot pin whereby pivotal motion of said bracket may be stopped, a second pivot pin journaled for rotation in said bracket, a second locking bolt for tightening said bracket on said second pivot pin whereby rotation of said second pin may be stopped, a frame supporting member fixed to said second pivot pin, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said frame supporting member, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, means connected to said arms for stopping rotation of both said alignment arms, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, a frame pivotally mounted on said frame supporting member, and an alignment wire carried by said frame in a plane midway between said head pads for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said head pads.

9. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising a clamp for engaging the filmcassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a pivot pin fixed to said clamp, a bracket pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, a second pivot pin journaled for rotation in said bracket, a frame supporting member fixed to said second pivot pin, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, mounting studs on said bearing plate, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said mounting studs, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, nuts threadably engaging said mounting studs, a nut actuating arm attached to one of said nuts whereby said arm may be actuated to tighten said nut to stop rotation of both said alignment arms, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, a frame pivotally mounted on said fram: supporting member, and an alignment wire carried by said frame in a plane midway between said head pads for aligning the nose of a person whose head is engaged by said head pads.

10. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising means for engaging the film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a pivot pin fixed to said means, a bracket pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, means for tightening said bracket on said pivot pin whereby pivotal motion of said bracket may be stopped, a second pivot pin journaled for rotation in said bracket, means for tightening said bracket on said second pivot pin whereby rotation of said second pin may be stopped, a frame supporting member fixed to said second pivot pin, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, mounting studs on said bearing plate, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said mounting studs, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, means to stop rotation of both said alignment arms, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, a frame pivotally mounted on said frame supporting member, and an alignment wire carried by said frame in a plane midway between said head pads for aligning the nose of a person Whose head is engaged by said head pads.

11. A device for supporting a human head while making X-ray pictures comprising a clamp for engaging the film-cassette of an X-ray apparatus for mounting said device on said film-cassette, a pivot pin fixed to one of said clamps, a bracket pivotally mounted on said pivot pin, means for tightening said bracket on said pivot pin whereby pivotal motion of said bracket may be stopped, a second pivot pin journaled for rotation in said bracket, means for tightening said bracket on said second pivot pin whereby rotation of said second pin may be stopped, a frame supporting member fixed to said second pivot pin, a depending bearing plate fixed to said frame supporting member, mounting studs on said bearing plate, opposed spaced alignment arms rotatably mounted on said mounting studs, said arms being provided with gear teeth which respectively engage each other, nuts threadably engaging said mounting studs, a nut actuating arm attached to one of said nuts whereby said arm may be actuated to tighten said nut to stop rotation of both said alignment arms, head pads respectively attached to the free ends of said alignment arms, a frame pivotally mounted on said frame, supporting member, and an alignment wire mounted on said frame in a plane midway between said arms for aligning the nasal spine at a point centered between the eyes matching the occipital protuberance with the center vertical line of said cassette.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,442,027 Levenson Jan. 9, 1923 1,557,988 Devine Oct. 20, 1925 1,589,973 Landa June 22, 1926 1,620,992 Bullitt Mar. 15, 1927 2,349,664 Leighty May 23, 1944 2,532,967 Thompson Dec. 5, 1950 2,581,431 Nelsen Jan. 8, 1952 

